Dear Tufts,
I may, in the past, have said some things that conveyed my regret for choosing this institution. Last Saturday improved my previously sour outlook. I'm sorry I hated on the land of the Jumbos.
Love,Ben
Let me explain. Some time ago, I was watching Boston College host Duke in a big-time ACC college basketball matchup. As a huge sports fan, it made me wonder why I hadn't gone to a school like BC. I could have gone to a good university outside of Boston and become a diehard devotee of an athletic program that features some of the top Division I football, hockey, and basketball teams in the country, among other sports.
I imagined myself amongst a wild bunch of revelers, all clad in yellow T-shirts, tailgating and eagerly awaiting a primetime gridiron battle with Florida State. I saw myself 15 years from now, wearing an Eagles sweatshirt, and catching my alma mater's game on ABC on a weekend afternoon.
Now I know that sports here will never be on the same level as Boston College, but for someone who counts sports as a major part of his life, well, it's just something else I wish I could have in my college experience. Fellow columnist Cole Liberator discussed this very topic in a column earlier this semester. He explained, and I agree, that Tufts has great, nationally known teams, but as a fan, the experience simply isn't the same as at bigger schools like BC.
Cut to this past Saturday. The men's basketball team had a NESCAC semifinal game against Trinity at Amherst, and a lot of us fans knew what that meant: road trip. As the afternoon approached, word was out that there would be no "fan bus" making the two hour voyage west. Apparently, the last time such travel was procured, only a smattering of people showed up. This time, I promise the bus would have been filled.
In the meantime, we had to figure out another mode of road-tripping. We had too many people to fit in my sedan, but luckily, my buddy's "big green machine" was perfect for the job. The van was stocked with provisions, such as music, snacks, and beverages, which, to our delight, were conveniently encased in a tiered cardboard package.
At the game, the Tufts contingency was strong and loud. Many were clad in brown and blue, and we chanted incessantly with such vicious but hilarious phrases such as "safety school" directed at the Trinity fans.
I want to quickly make two asides. First, there has been criticism, both here in the Daily, and in the Observer, about the state of athletic facilities at Tufts. Upon seeing the athletic centers at Amherst and before that, at Wesleyan, both of which have smaller enrollments than Tufts, I can understand where these criticisms are coming from. But that's a topic for a different column.
Second, I have gone to Tufts basketball games at Trinity and Springfield College. At Trinity, there were a decent amount of people at the gym for the Friday night affair, but I'm not sure if the Bantam "fans" knew that a game was being played and that it was okay to be loud. At Springfield, there just wasn't anyone there.
Anyway, back to Saturday's game. We cheered when Tufts went up big, got really nervous when we lost our lead, and then went nuts as Shep sent the game to overtime, where Tufts would eventually cruise to victory.
Although we had to make it back that night and I was forced to watch a tough finals loss to Amherst on JumboCast Sunday afternoon, the trip out to the game changed for the better my perspective on Tufts sports.
The Amherst gym may be smaller than BC's gym, but our section of the bleachers made sure it was loud in there. At the men's home playoff game against Williams, the seats were packed and there were people standing at every available vantage point. Trust me, the same can't be said for other places. I've learned that Tufts and its athletics can create a great atmosphere for its fans, and that its fans care about its teams. We may not host the number one basketball team in the nation, but we're alright.
So, to my boys on the basketball team (who won't get to read this because they're in New York competing in the NCAA Tournament this weekend), I'm really hoping you can get a couple of wins. Your fans want another chance to make a road trip out to Amherst next weekend.
Ben Swasey is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major. He can be reached via e-mail at benjamin.swasey@tufts.edu
